Halifax fans have been told to "stop being paranoid" over City's cut-price ticket offer.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn insisted there was no ulterior motive behind the scheme to encourage supporters of the crisis-hit Shay club to buy a season-ticket for Valley Parade.

Halifax-based businessman and City associate director Glenn Ackroyd has offered to pay £51 towards the £150 cost, providing the fans prove they live in Calderdale.

But it has been slammed as "disgusting" by the Halifax Town supporters' trust, one of two parties who have put forward plans to keep the Shaymen in existence.

Trust chairman Allan Baker said: "Football in Halifax has not ceased to exist so it is hugely disappointing that our neighbours at Bradford City are looking to gain from our current predicament.

"As a club who, in the not too distant past, have suffered extreme financial difficulties themselves, their aim of targeting those who support Halifax Town for their own gain is mischievous to say the least."

But Lawn maintains that the concerns are unfounded. "They've taken the idea out of context," he added. "We're not trying to pinch Halifax Town fans but to build bridges - we're just asking if they want to come and support us as their second club.

"I don't think there's any animosity between Halifax Town and Bradford City. Nobody is forcing them to do it so I don't understand the problem.

"Glenn has friends and family who are Halifax fans and they said they'd like to come here as well. That's where the idea came from. To suggest that we're trying to turn people away from supporting Halifax is just getting the wrong end of the stick."

Meanwhile, Lawn is happy with the response from City's "ring-round" to former season-ticket holders who are yet to buy a new one.

He said: "I would reckon around 65 to 70 per cent of people we've spoken to are now going to renew.

"It's not a high-pressure selling technique but a customer-care exercise and I think that's been appreciated. We've been able to help people out with any queries or problems."

The half-price deadline for season-tickets is Sunday, June 15.

The ticket office is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10-4pm on Sundays.

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